Joy Is the Payment

By M. Anetta Keys and Susan Shorter

Joy Is the Payment consists of seven short stories for kids and shares reasons for joy in all unique aspects of peoples lives. From Soldier to Soldier shows difficult emotions when a father deploys to a hostile country and how he comforts his son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496938626

M. Anetta Keys

A mother of two children, the author watched them grow into young adults attending college. Although she is challenged with dyslexia, she hasn’t allowed it to hold her back. She became interested in reaching children through life experiences, and she shares them in short stories. Her short stories are inspired by her family.

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2014 M. Anetta Keys. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/19/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3861-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3862-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014916289

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Trashman Smile

Joy Is the Payment

Mr. Sino’s Lasting Recipe

A Day of Cleanup

Debora’s Gift

Soldier to Soldier

A Prayer from Anna

Acknowledgements

I thank God for all things. My gratitude and love to my family and friends for prayers and support. My parents for teaching me God gives abundantly to his children. My son and daughter this book is dedicated to you, you’re the spot light and joy of each story. My husband, you’re unconditional love and gentle push to step out on faith has been just one of many gifts I receive from you. Blessings and love to you all.

Trashman Smile

I’m on summer break from school, and I see Mr. Thomas every Wednesday morning between eight and eight fifteen. He always looks so glad to be picking up the neighborhood trash.

I think to myself, Why would anybody be smiling about picking up trash? I, for one, don’t even like to take out the trash. If my mom didn’t remind me, I’m sure I’d forget most of the time. So why is Mr. Thomas so happy to pick it up?

My family and I have been in this neighborhood for about a year. We saw Mr. Thomas for the first time last summer. He would come by in his truck every Wednesday morning, waving and saying, Good morning! Mom and Mr. Thomas introduced themselves. Mom told Mr. Thomas that she